WATCH: Rachel Maddow's Five Best Moments From Last Week's Historic Rulings on Civil Rights

In case you've been living under a rock, last week was kind of a big deal in terms of civil rights.

By: Sunnivie Brydum

July 02 2013 2:42 PM

In case you've been living under a rock, last week was kind of a big deal in terms of civil rights. While the Supreme Court issued landmark rulings supporting the freedom to marry, it also dealt a serious blow to the Voting Rights Act. And on a more local level, contentious fights about reproductive rights took center stage in the legislatures in Texas and Ohio.

MSNBC's out anchor extraordinaire, Rachel Maddow, was on fire last week, bringing her characteristic wit, clarity, and snark to each of these major issues. Get up to speed on everything you need to know from SheWired's favorite out newsperson.

Let's start at the beginning. On Thursday, Maddow broke down just what the Supreme Court did with California's Prop. 8 and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday. Let Dr. Maddow school you below.